Top and bottom stacking blind

ABSTRACT

In a top down, bottom up blind with a fixed headrail as well as an intermediate or moving rail and bottom rail at least one spring is provided in the headrail or in the intermediate rail and is connected to the lift cords that raise and lower the intermediate rail. When the intermediate rail is fully raised to abut the headrail, the spring or springs pulls a portion of each lift cord into the headrail or intermediate rail. Consequently, the spring or springs compensate for the slippage of the lift cords that control the intermediate rail and there is no gap between the headrail and the fully raised intermediate rail.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to blinds that can be stacked and deployed from the top down as is common, or stacked and deployed from the bottom up.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of window coverings have a top rail, also called a headrail, and a bottom rail between which a window covering material is attached. These include venetian blinds, pleated shades, cellular shades and some Roman shades. In most of these blinds lift cords are attached to the bottom rail and extend into the headrail. The lift cords are used to raise and lower the bottom rail.

Another type of window covering, known as a top-down, bottom up blind, has an intermediate rail, also called a moving rail, between the headrail and the bottom rail and a second set of lift cords that operate the intermediate rail. The window covering material is connected between the intermediate rail and the bottom rail. The window covering material can be stacked at the bottom of the window by fully lowering both the bottom rail and the intermediate rail. The window covering material can be stacked at the top of the window by fully raising both the bottom rail and the intermediate rail. Examples of top down, bottom up blinds can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,408 to Bohrer, U.S. Pat. No. 12,695, to Rose, U.S. Pat. No. 2,283,640 to Kwon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,468 to Fraser, U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,108 to Levert et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,494 to Judkins.

The lift cords that raise and lower the intermediate or moving rail typically are routed through a cord lock in the headrail, but they could be wound on an axle or spools within the headrail. Most cord locks have a cam, pawl, or dogleg that bites into the lift cords to prevent the cords from moving. Some slippage of the lift cords occurs as the cord lock is engaged. When one fully raises the intermediate rail to abut the headrail in a top down, bottom up blind the slippage of the lift cords in the cord lock results in a small gap between the headrail and the intermediate rail. Light can pass through this gap between the headrail and the intermediate rail. Prior to the present invention the art has provided a valance on the headrail or on the window that covers this gap. However, use of a valance increases the cost of the blind. A valance on the headrail makes the headrail taller and can detract from the appearance of the blind. Attaching a valance to the window frame increases the installation time and requires careful alignment between the valance and the blind. Consequently, there is a need for a top down, bottom up blind that utilizes lift cords and a cord lock to operate the intermediate rail but does not have a gap between the headrail and a fully raised intermediate rail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We provide a top down, bottom up blind with a fixed headrail as well as an intermediate or moving rail and bottom rail in which at least one spring is provided in the headrail or in the intermediate rail and is connected to the lift cords that raise and lower the intermediate rail. When the intermediate rail is fully raised to abut the headrail, the spring or springs pulls a portion of each lift cord into the headrail or intermediate rail. Consequently, the spring or springs compensate for the slippage of the lift cords that control the intermediate rail and there is no gap between the headrail and the fully raised intermediate rail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front view of a typical top down, bottom up blind of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a first present preferred embodiment of our top down, bottom up shade.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a portion of a second present preferred embodiment of our top down, bottom up shade in which the lift cords are positioned as they would be while the intermediate rail is being raised.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 after the intermediate rail has been fully raised.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of a third present preferred embodiment of our top down, bottom up shade in which the lift cords are positioned as they would be while the intermediate rail is being raised.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 after the intermediate rail has been fully raised.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In a typical a top-down-bottom-up shade of the prior art, shown in FIG. 1, the shade 10 comprises a headrail 12, an intermediate or moving rail 14, a bottom rail 16, and pleated fabric 18 or other suitable shade material connected between the intermediate rail 14 and the bottom rail 16. A first set of lift cords 28 is attached to the bottom rail 28, extends through holes 19 in the pleated material 18, passes through the intermediate rail 14 and the headrail 12, and exits the headrail through cord lock 24B. The exact number of lift cords used will depend upon the width of the shade 10. When one fully raises the intermediate rail 14 to abut the headrail 12 slippage of the lift cords 26 in the cord lock 24A results in a small gap between the headrail and the intermediate rail. Light can pass through this gap between the headrail and the intermediate rail.

A first present preferred embodiment of our top down, bottom up shade 20, shown in FIG. 2, has a headrail 12, intermediate rail 14 and bottom rail 16. End caps 13 and 15 are provided on the intermediate rail and the bottom rail. The window covering material 17 connected between the intermediate rail and the bottom rail in this blind is a cellular material, but could be pleated shade material, roman shade material and a set of slats on at least two ladders. Inserts 11 fit into the top cell and the bottom cell of the cellular material. The cells containing an insert are captured by the intermediate rail or the bottom rail thereby connecting the cellular material between the intermediate rail and the headrail. End caps 6 are fitted into the opposite ends of the headrail 12. Each end cap contains a cord lock 25 or 27. The cord lock preferably is of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,926 but any conventional cord lock could be used. Cord guides 23 are positioned within the headrail 12 to align the lift cords with the holes in the intermediate rail 14 and cellular material 17 through which the lift cords 28 pass. Lift cords 28 are attached to the bottom rail 16, extend through holes in the cellular material 17, pass through the intermediate rail 14 and through the headrail 12, and exit the headrail through cord lock 25. A second set of lift cords 26 is connected to the intermediate rail 14 and passes through the headrail 12 and cord lock 27 before exiting the headrail. These lift cords 26 are used to raise and lower the intermediate rail 14. A rivet or post 21 is provided in the center of the intermediate rail 14. One end of a spring 22 is attached to the end of each lift cord 26 and the opposite end of each spring is attached to the rivet 21. When an operator of the blind pulls lift cords 26 to fully raise the intermediate rod, springs 22 will stretch. At the point where the intermediate rail abuts the headrail the operator will stop pulling lift cords 26 and engage the cord lock 27. As the cord lock 27 engages lift cords 26, some slippage of those cords will occur. However, stretched springs 22 will then contract taking up the slack in the lift cords 26. The action of the springs will cause the intermediate rail to be held tightly against the headrail so that there will be no gap between them.

Although we prefer to use two springs, one attached to each lift cord 26 and each attached to the headrail, one could use a single spring. For example, the two springs shown in FIG. 2 could be replaced by one spring, with each end of the spring connected to the end of one of the lift cords 26.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 there is no window covering material connected between the headrail and the intermediate rail. If desired, one could provide a window covering material between those two rails. That second window covering material typically would be different from the window covering material connected between the intermediate rail and the bottom rail. One could also provide more than one intermediate rail between the headrail and the bottom rail and window covering material between adjacent intermediate rails. If there is more than one intermediate rail, the spring mechanism disclosed here need only be provided for the intermediate rail that can abut the headrail.

A second present preferred embodiment 30 shown in FIG. 3 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. However, in this embodiment the end of each lift cord 26 is attached to the intermediate rail. Two springs 31 are provided in the intermediate rail. One end of each spring is attached to the intermediate rail by post 33. The second end of each spring has an eye 34 through which one of the lift cords 26 passes. As in the first embodiment an operator of the blind pulls lift cords 26 to fully raise the intermediate rail. At the point where the intermediate rail abuts the headrail the operator will stop pulling lift cords 26 engage the cord lock 27. As the cord lock 27 engages lift cords 26 some slippage of the cords will occur. However, stretched springs 31 will then contract changing the cord path of the lift cords to the position shown in FIG. 4 taking up the slack in the lift cords 26. This action of the springs will cause the intermediate rail to be held tightly against the headrail so that there will be no gap between them.

In another present preferred embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, we provide springs in the headrail to take up the slack in the lift cords 26 when the cord lock is engaged. In this embodiment 40 two springs 42 are provided in the headrail 12. One end of each spring is attached to a post 43 in the headrail. The second end of each spring has an eye 44 through which one of the lift cords 26 passes. The ends of each lift cord 26 can be attached directly to the intermediate rail as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the connections shown in FIGS. 2 or 3, in which springs are also provided in the intermediate rail, could also be used. As in the previous embodiments an operator of the blind pulls lift cords 26 to fully raise the intermediate rail and engage the cord lock 27. As the cord lock 27 engages lift cords 26 some slippage of the cords will occur. However, stretched springs 42 will then contract changing the cord path of the lift cords to the position shown in FIG. 6 taking up the slack in the lift cords 26. This action of the springs will cause the intermediate rail to be held tightly against the headrail so that there will be no gap between them.

In each of the preferred embodiments there were two lift cords connected to the intermediate rail for rails for raising and lowering the intermediate rail. If desired, additional intermediate lift cords may be provided. Should such additional lift cords be used, it may not be necessary to attach a spring to the additional intermediate rail lift cords to achieve a tight abutment between the headrail and a fully raised intermediate rail.

Although we have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of our top down, bottom up blind it should be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied within the scope of the following claims. 

1. An improved top down, bottom up blind of the type comprised of an intermediate rail located between a headrail and a bottom rail, window covering material connected between the intermediate rail and the bottom rail, a first set of lift cords connected to the bottom rail and passing into the headrail, and a second set of lift cords connected to the intermediate rail and passing through a cord lock in the headrail wherein the improvement comprises at least one spring connected to the headrail or the intermediate rail and connected to at least one of the lift cords in the second set of lift cords.
 2. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 wherein the window covering material is selected from the group consisting of pleated shade material, cellular material, roman shade material and a set of slats on at least two ladders.
 3. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 also comprising a second window covering material connected between the headrail and the intermediate rail.
 4. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 3 wherein the window covering material is selected from the group consisting of pleated shade material, cellular material, roman shade material and a set of slats on at least two ladders.
 5. The improved top down, bottom up shade of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring is a single spring located within the intermediate rail in which the one end of the spring is connected to one of the lift cords in the second set of lift cords and an opposite end is connected to a second lift cord in the second set of lift cords.
 6. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring is a pair of springs located in the headrail, each spring having one end attached to the headrail and an opposite end containing an eye through which at least one lift cord of the second set of lift cords passes.
 7. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring is a pair of springs located in the intermediate rail, each spring having one end attached to the intermediate rail and an opposite end containing an eye through which at least one lift cord of the second set of lift cords passes.
 8. The improved top down, bottom up blind of claim 1 wherein the second set of the lift cords is comprised of a first lift cord and a second lift cord, the second set of lift cords being connected to the intermediate rail by the at least one spring, and wherein the at least one spring is comprised of a first spring having one end attached to the intermediate rail and an opposite end attached to the first lift cord, and a second spring having one end attached to the intermediate rail and an opposite end attached to the second set of lift cords. 